Best Overall Headphone?

[JAG]

Everything I have read in this forum about ER4S/ER4P earphone has been that they deliver the best sound possible. Why then, doesn't every one have these who can wear and afford them. Most signatures include 4 or 5 headphones at 200+ each. Even the gurus around here don't list owning Etymotics.
What gives?

 

[skippy]

it's opinion.

 

[williamgoody]

Some people really don't care for the "in the ear" canal phones that they really are. Some do find them uncomfortable.

 

[AIM9x]

it's an acquired sound, just like how oysters and whiskey are acquired tastes

 

[r3cc0s]

As far as I have been reading on this forum for like the last year

if you get a good seal
hardly anything is more neutral nor better than the er4s with a good amp.

I mean sure people have their opinions regarding what kind of tastes they like, like the Grado impact, the fast midrange of electrostats, the thick bass from the beyers, the all purpose and anlyitcal sound and deep bass in the sony v6's. All the way to the R10's which some people say are the BEST and some say are very colored.

I mean I wish I could find the perfectly neutral speaker/amp , headphone/amp setup, however... i'm pretty sure the ER4S are the closest that you can get. (And with the amount isolation you get, you hear nothing but the equipment and recording)

 

[elrod-tom]

For me, it's the whole in-the-ear thing. Just not interested, no matter how good they are. I don't like earbuds, and the only time I ever consider them is when I'm working out. Just doesn't strike me as comfortable.

 

[jpelg]

Well I'm no guru, but I wanted the best, most neutral sound for my $$. There's no "fphrelling" way I am paying $800 for HP-1's. So I got over the in-the-ear thing, bought the ER4S', and am I glad I did. Getting a seal has not been a problem. The thing that is disconcerting is the microphonics of the cord.

Most of the gurus have (or at least had) them too, but also have better (HP-1000, Stax, R10, etc.) and matching amps to go with them (I don't think that the Ety's are so particular).

But Skippy is so right - it is an opinion.

 

[HappymaN]

I think it has something to do with the tiny soundstage.

 

[AIM9x]

soundstage is completely immersive..... it's almost as if it eminates from within your own skull.

I would love to walk around with an FM transducer and try to find somebody with a pair of etys on with an FM radio (heh, i'd be so amazingly lucky to find such a person) and start claiming I'm god. He'd most likely believe me since the voice is practically coming from within his own head.

 

[tigger]

I found the sound of the ER4s unbeatable during 10 months I owned them. I never had a problem with the seal.
However, there were other problems which ultimately caused me to sell them.

TOO MUCH isolation for home use ( seems like you're ignoring people when wearing them.)

Ear wax is messy even with clean ears ( you can't just say" here buddy try my headphones"!)

Too much trouble taking them on and off to answer people/phones etc.
I miss the sound and musical involvement of my ETYs but not all the other "stuff".

 

[CrzyAzn]

i was led to believe that both the Ety's were best for in ear and HD600 or HD580 for overthetop cans?

 

[r3cc0s]

to be honest

i'd say for best quality of audio reproduction in terms of accuracy
er4s for sure

however i'm sure people complain about the whole in the ear thing
the next in line, i'd say is commanly the most spoken about by far are the senn 580/600.
Which are excellentphones, great soundstage, great details, nice bass, exciting midrange, nothing out of the ordinary just all very very good.

(cept people say they are veild but I don't think so, they just aren't bright)

 

[soupy]

if there really were a best overall headphone..the phrase "welcome to head-fi and I'm sorry about your wallet" would never come into play

. As always, everyone's ears are different and like different things. For me, I'm currently in love with the HD600's, but I still havent tried alot of other highly acclaimed headphones yet, so I'm not safe yet...